Overview
- Former prime minister David Cameron publicly said the UK should leave the European Convention on Human Rights while confirming he is advising Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.
- Cameron argued the country must ‘do whatever it takes’ to stop small-boat crossings and illegal migration, framing ECHR withdrawal as a means to allow tougher deportations.
- The endorsement marks a notable shift for a mainstream Tory figure who led the Remain campaign in 2016 and who said he would be available to return to public service under Badenoch.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Labour government has pledged to keep the ECHR and to pursue closer ties with the EU, creating a clear cross-party contrast on rights and border policy.
- Leaving the ECHR would change how deportation decisions are reviewed by courts, could strain relations with European partners, and would intensify domestic debate over sovereignty and migrant rights.